EP0583188A1 - Process and arrangement for butt welding at least two steel sheets - Google Patents

Process and arrangement for butt welding at least two steel sheets Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0583188A1
EP0583188A1 EP93401935A EP93401935A EP0583188A1 EP 0583188 A1 EP0583188 A1 EP 0583188A1 EP 93401935 A EP93401935 A EP 93401935A EP 93401935 A EP93401935 A EP 93401935A EP 0583188 A1 EP0583188 A1 EP 0583188A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
laser beam
sheets
sheet
focal point
welding method
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EP93401935A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0583188B1 (en
Inventor
Jérôme Guth
Nathalie Philbois
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Sollac SA
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Sollac SA
Lorraine de Laminage Continu SA SOLLAC
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/20—Bonding
    • B23K26/21—Bonding by welding
    • B23K26/24—Seam welding
    • B23K26/26—Seam welding of rectilinear seams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
    • B23K26/20—Bonding
    • B23K26/21—Bonding by welding
    • B23K26/24—Seam welding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K2103/00—Materials to be soldered, welded or cut
    • B23K2103/02—Iron or ferrous alloys
    • B23K2103/04—Steel or steel alloys

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an edge-to-edge welding process of sheets of different thicknesses by means of a laser beam, more particularly of so-called thin sheets of thickness less than 3 mm.
  • Laser welding has found an important industrial outlet, particularly in the production of blanked blanks, for example for the automobile industry.
  • Edge-to-edge welding of sheets by means of a laser beam is carried out without filler metal and requires very high requirements of precision, shape and position of the sheets to be welded.
  • the sheets must have been cut beforehand by means of a shear or a laser beam with a precision such that the play between said sheets is minimum to ensure good quality of the contact between the sheets at the plane of attached.
  • the standards defined by the automobile manufacturers impose that for sheets whose thickness is less than 1mm, the total value of the collapse of the weld joint, that is to say the cumulative value of the collapse in upper and lower part of the sheets, does not exceed 20% of the thickness of the thinner sheet.
  • the total value of the collapse of the welded joint must not exceed 10% of the thickness of the sheet of thinner thickness.
  • This additional molten metal makes it possible to fill the gaps present between the sheets.
  • This operation makes it possible to obtain a vertical bulge of metal on the edges of the lateral faces in order to provide additional material at the level of the clearances during welding.
  • the object of the present invention is to propose a method of edge-to-edge welding of sheets of different thicknesses by means of a laser beam making it possible to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.
  • the method according to the present invention consists in welding edge to edge two sheets of different thicknesses, by means of a laser beam 3, a sheet 1 of thickness e1 and a sheet 2 of thickness e2 less than e 1.
  • the main face 1b of the sheet 1 opposite to the main face 1a on which the laser beam 3 is directed is located in the same plane as one 2b of the main faces 2a and 2b of the sheet 2 .
  • the distance d from the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of the laser beam 3 with respect to the joint plane 7 of the sheets 1 and 2 is between 0.2 and 0.3 times the difference of thickness (e1 - e2) between said sheets 1 and 2.
  • the sheets 1 and 2 can be offset relative to each other as shown in FIG. 3.
  • the distance from the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of the laser beam 3 relative to the joint plane 7 of the sheets 1 and 2 is included between 0.2 and 0.3 times the height difference d1 between the main faces la and 2a of the sheets 1 and 2, at the joint plane 7 on the side of the laser beam 3.
  • the focal point P of the laser beam 3 is situated substantially at a third of the thickness e1 of the thickest sheet 1 below the face la of said sheet on which the beam is directed. laser 3.
  • the surface S2 corresponds to the metal which has flowed from the surface S1 in the possible spaces present at the joint plane and on the surface of the sheet 2.
  • a welded zone 10 which has an almost perfect continuity between the two thicknesses e1 and e2 of the sheets 1 and 2 when the distance d is between 0.2 and 0.3 times the difference in thickness between said sheets 1 and 2 or the difference in height between the main faces of the sheets 1 and 2 on the side of the laser beam 3.
  • the axis Y-Y of the laser beam 3 may be perpendicular to the main face la of the thickest sheet 1 on which it is directed, which is most often the case for welding sheets of different thicknesses.
  • the difference in thickness (e1 - e2) of which is greater than 1mm it significantly improves the shape of the welded joint between the two sheets 1 and 2 by tilting the laser beam 3 relative to the vertical by a determined angle ⁇ and oriented towards the thickest sheet 1.
  • the axis YY of the laser beam forms with the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of said laser beam 3, at an angle ⁇ between 2 and 15 °.
  • the axis YY is inclined relative to the axis XX by an angle ⁇ , expressed in degrees, between 6 ( ⁇ e - 0.2) and 6 ⁇ e + 3, ⁇ e being the difference in thickness of the two sheets 1 and 2 expressed in millimeters.
  • This inclination condition of the axis Y-Y of the laser beam 3 is important in order to obtain a connection profile of the perfect welded joint.
  • the method according to the present invention allows to weld edge to edge at least two sheets of different thicknesses by optimizing the connection profile of the welded joint, that is to say by producing a welded joint having neither beads nor hollow.
  • the welded joints thus obtained exhibit mechanical strength, essentially in fatigue and in traction, since the discontinuities are eliminated.
  • the line of the connection between the two sheets has perfect continuity, said line being tangent to the surfaces of the sheets, therefore without angular points, incipient fractures.
  • the surface condition obtained is entirely compatible with a subsequent stamping operation.
  • the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point of the laser beam has been defined by assuming that the sheets are arranged horizontally.
  • this axis X-X is perpendicular to the main face of the sheet on which the laser beam is directed.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)
  • Arc Welding In General (AREA)
  • Butt Welding And Welding Of Specific Article (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a method of butt welding at least two metal sheets (1, 2) of various thicknesses, by means of a laser beam (3). The method consists in bringing the metal sheets (1, 2) into contact at their side faces (4, 5) to be joined end to end, in directing the laser beam (3) towards the thicker metal sheet (1) so that the vertical axis X-X, which passes through the focal point P of the laser beam (3) on the said metal sheet (1), is at a defined distance from the junction plane (7) of the metal sheets, and in producing a welded joint at the side faces (4, 5) joined end to end, by locally melting the said metal sheets by means of a laser beam (3). <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention a pour objet un procédé de soudage bord à bord de tôles de différentes épaisseurs au moyen d'un faisceau laser, plus particulièrement de tôles dites minces d'épaisseur inférieure à 3mm.The present invention relates to an edge-to-edge welding process of sheets of different thicknesses by means of a laser beam, more particularly of so-called thin sheets of thickness less than 3 mm.

Le soudage laser a trouvé un débouché industriel important notamment dans la production de flans raboutés, par exemple pour l'industrie automobile.Laser welding has found an important industrial outlet, particularly in the production of blanked blanks, for example for the automobile industry.

Le soudage bord à bord de tôles au moyen d'un faisceau laser est réalisé sans métal d'apport et demande de très hautes exigences de précision, de forme et de position des tôles à souder.Edge-to-edge welding of sheets by means of a laser beam is carried out without filler metal and requires very high requirements of precision, shape and position of the sheets to be welded.

A cet effet, les tôles doivent avoir été préalablement coupées au moyen d'une cisaille ou d'un faisceau laser avec une précision telle que le jeu entre lesdites tôles soit minimum pour assurer une bonne qualité du contact entre les tôles au niveau du plan de joint.For this purpose, the sheets must have been cut beforehand by means of a shear or a laser beam with a precision such that the play between said sheets is minimum to ensure good quality of the contact between the sheets at the plane of attached.

Si la qualité du contact au niveau du plan de joint entre les tôles à souder est incorrect, c'est à dire si le jeu entre les tôles à souder est trop important, il peut arriver que le joint soudé ne soit pas continu et présente des trous.If the quality of the contact at the joint plane between the plates to be welded is incorrect, i.e. if the clearance between the plates to be welded is too great, it may happen that the welded joint is not continuous and presents holes.

D'autre part, si le jeu entre les tôles au niveau du plan de joint est localement trop important, le joint soudé peut présenter un effondrement.On the other hand, if the clearance between the sheets at the joint plane is locally too great, the welded joint may present a collapse.

Un tel effondrement du plan de joint est toléré si il ne dépasse pas certaines limites.Such a collapse of the parting line is tolerated if it does not exceed certain limits.

Ainsi, les normes définies par les constructeurs automobiles imposent que pour des tôles dont l'épaisseur est inférieure à 1mm, la valeur totale de l'effondrement du joint à souder, c'est à dire le cumul de la valeur de l'effondrement en partie supérieure et partie inférieure des tôles, ne dépasse pas 20% de l'épaisseur de la tôle de plus faible épaisseur.Thus, the standards defined by the automobile manufacturers impose that for sheets whose thickness is less than 1mm, the total value of the collapse of the weld joint, that is to say the cumulative value of the collapse in upper and lower part of the sheets, does not exceed 20% of the thickness of the thinner sheet.

De même, pour des tôles d'épaisseur supérieure à 1mm, la valeur totale de l'effondrement du joint soudé ne doit pas dépasser 10% de l'épaisseur de la tôle de plus faible épaisseur.Likewise, for sheets of thickness greater than 1mm, the total value of the collapse of the welded joint must not exceed 10% of the thickness of the sheet of thinner thickness.

Pour limiter ces risques de joint non continu ou d'effondrement trop important, jusqu'à présent on améliore la qualité du cisaillage des tôles afin de limiter les ondulations des arêtes de coupe et d'assurer un meilleur contact des tôles entre elles pour mieux maîtriser le jeu entre lesdites tôles.To limit these risks of non-continuous joint or excessive collapse, up to now we have improved the quality of sheet metal shearing in order to limit the undulations of the cutting edges and to ensure better contact of the sheets with each other to better control the clearance between said sheets.

Mais, pour obtenir un tel résultat, il est nécessaire d'investir dans des cisailles très précises de coût important ou d'utiliser des cisailles doubles permettant de couper simultanément, avec la même lame, les deux tôles à rabouter.But, to obtain such a result, it is necessary to invest in very precise shears of significant cost or to use double shears making it possible to cut simultaneously, with the same blade, the two sheets to be butt-jointed.

Pour s'affranchir de cette opération de cisaillage de précision coûteuse et délicate, il est connu d'effectuer la soudure avec un fil d'apport consommable se déroulant au point de soudage.To overcome this costly and delicate precision shearing operation, it is known to perform welding with a consumable filler wire taking place at the welding point.

Ce métal supplémentaire en fusion permet de combler les jeux présents entre les tôles.This additional molten metal makes it possible to fill the gaps present between the sheets.

Il est également connu de former préalablement les faces latérales des tôles destinées à être raboutées, par exemple par martelage avant soudage.It is also known to form the lateral faces of the sheets intended to be butted together beforehand, for example by hammering before welding.

Cette opération permet d'obtenir un renflement vertical de métal sur les bords des faces latérales afin de fournir de la matière supplémentaire au niveau des jeux pendant le soudage.This operation makes it possible to obtain a vertical bulge of metal on the edges of the lateral faces in order to provide additional material at the level of the clearances during welding.

Dans les deux cas, les problèmes liés à la présence de jeux entre les tôles sont résolus, mais les soudures produites présentent souvent des bourrelets au niveau de la face supérieure et également de la face inférieure.In both cases, the problems associated with the presence of clearances between the sheets are resolved, but the welds produced often have beads at the level of the upper face and also of the lower face.

Ces bourrelets endommagent le poinçon et la matrice lors d'un l'emboutissage ultérieur de la pièce soudée et cela est d'autant plus significatif que la zone affectée thermiquement possède, surtout en surface, une dureté au moins deux fois supérieures à la dureté du métal de base.These beads damage the punch and the matrix during a subsequent stamping of the welded part and this is all the more significant since the heat affected zone has, especially on the surface, a hardness at least twice greater than the hardness of the base metal.

De plus, ces procédés connus sont difficilement transposables au soudage de tôles de différentes épaisseurs.In addition, these known methods are difficult to transpose to the welding of sheets of different thicknesses.

La présente invention a pour but de proposer un procédé de soudage bord à bord de tôles de différentes épaisseurs au moyen d'un faisceau laser permettant de s'affranchir des inconvénients mentionnés ci-dessus.The object of the present invention is to propose a method of edge-to-edge welding of sheets of different thicknesses by means of a laser beam making it possible to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

La présente invention a pour objet un procédé de soudage bord à bord d'au moins deux tôles de différentes épaisseurs, au moyen d'un faisceau laser, caractérisé en ce que :

  • on amène les tôles en contact au niveau de leurs faces latérales à rabouter,
  • on dirige le faisceau laser en direction de la tôle la plus épaisse pour que l'axe vertical passant par le point focal du faisceau laser sur ladite tôle soit à une distance déterminée du plan de joint des tôles,
  • et on réalise un joint soudé au niveau des faces latérales raboutées par fusion locale desdites tôles au moyen du faisceau laser.
The subject of the present invention is a method of welding edge to edge of at least two sheets of different thicknesses, by means of a laser beam, characterized in that:
  • the sheets are brought into contact at their lateral faces to be butted together,
  • the laser beam is directed towards the thickest sheet so that the vertical axis passing through the focal point of the laser beam on said sheet is at a determined distance from the joint plane of the sheets,
  • and a welded joint is produced at the level of the side faces which are butted together by local fusion of said sheets by means of the laser beam.

Selon d'autres caractéristiques de l'invention :

  • la distance de l'axe vertical passant par le point focal du faisceau laser par rapport au plan de joint des tôles est compris ente 0,2 et 0,3 fois la différence de hauteur entre les faces principales desdites tôles, au niveau du plan de joint du côté du faisceau laser.
  • le point focal du faisceau laser est situé sensiblement à un tiers d'épaisseur de la tôle la plus épaisse au-dessous de la face de ladite tôle sur laquelle est dirigé le faisceau laser,
  • l'axe du faisceau laser est perpendiculaire à la face de la tôle la plus épaisse sur laquelle est dirigé ledit faisceau laser,
  • le faisceau laser est incliné par rapport à la verticale d'un angle déterminé et orienté vers la tôle la plus épaisse,
  • l'axe du faisceau laser forme avec l'axe vertical passant par le point focal dudit faisceau laser, un angle, exprimé en degrés, compris entre 6 (Δe - 0,2) et 6 Δe + 3, Δe étant la différence d'épaisseur entre les deux tôles, exprimée en millimètres,
  • l'axe du faisceau laser forme avec l'axe vertical passant par le point focal dudit faisceau laser, un angle compris entre 2 et 15°.
According to other characteristics of the invention:
  • the distance from the vertical axis passing through the focal point of the laser beam with respect to the joint plane of the sheets is between 0.2 and 0.3 times the difference in height between the main faces of said sheets, at the plane of joint on the laser beam side.
  • the focal point of the laser beam is located substantially one third of the thickness of the thickest sheet below the face of said sheet on which the laser beam is directed,
  • the axis of the laser beam is perpendicular to the face of the thickest sheet on which said laser beam is directed,
  • the laser beam is inclined relative to the vertical by a determined angle and oriented towards the thickest sheet,
  • the axis of the laser beam forms with the vertical axis passing through the focal point of said laser beam, an angle, expressed in degrees, between 6 (Δe - 0.2) and 6 Δe + 3, Δe being the difference of thickness between the two sheets, expressed in millimeters,
  • the axis of the laser beam forms with the vertical axis passing through the focal point of said laser beam, an angle between 2 and 15 °.

Les caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaîtront au cours de la description qui va suivre, donnée uniquement à titre d'exemple, faite en référence aux dessins annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la Fig. 1 est une vue schématique en élévation de deux tôles de différentes épaisseurs, pendant le soudage par le procédé selon la présente invention, dans le cas où deux faces principales de ces tôles sont situées dans un même plan.
  • la Fig. 2 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale des deux tôles, après soudage par le procédé selon la présente invention.
  • la Fig. 3 est une vue schématique en élévation de deux tôles de différentes épaisseurs, pendant le soudage par le procédé selon la présente invention, dans le cas où les faces principales de ces tôles ne sont pas situées dans un même plan.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the description which follows, given solely by way of example, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic elevation view of two sheets of different thicknesses, during welding by the method according to the present invention, in the case where two main faces of these sheets are located in the same plane.
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the two sheets, after welding by the method according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a schematic elevation view of two sheets of different thicknesses, during welding by the method according to the present invention, in the case where the main faces of these sheets are not located in the same plane.

Le procédé selon la présente invention consiste à souder bord à bord deux tôles d'épaisseurs différentes, au moyen d'un faisceau laser 3, une tôle 1 d'épaisseur e₁ et une tôle 2 d'épaisseur e₂ inférieure à e1. The method according to the present invention consists in welding edge to edge two sheets of different thicknesses, by means of a laser beam 3, a sheet 1 of thickness e₁ and a sheet 2 of thickness e₂ less than e 1.

Le procédé selon la présente invention consiste :

  • à amener les tôles 1 et 2 en contact au niveau de leurs faces latérales 4 et 5 à rabouter, c'est à dire au niveau de leurs bords 4 et 5 à rabouter.
  • à diriger le faisceau laser 3 en direction de la face supérieure la de la tôle la plus épaisse 1 pour que l'axe vertical X-X perpendiculaire à la face supérieure la de ladite tôle 1 et passant par le point focal P du faisceau laser 3, soit à une distance déterminée d du plan de joint 7 desdites tôles 1 et 2,
  • et à réaliser un joint soudé au niveau du plan de joint 7 par fusion locale des tôles 1 et 2 au moyen du faisceau laser 3, soit en déplaçant ledit faisceau laser par rapport auxdites tôles, soit en déplaçant ces tôles au-dessous du faisceau laser 3.
The method according to the present invention consists of:
  • bringing the sheets 1 and 2 into contact at their lateral faces 4 and 5 to be butted, that is to say at their edges 4 and 5 to be butted.
  • directing the laser beam 3 in the direction of the upper face la of the thickest sheet 1 so that the vertical axis XX perpendicular to the upper face la of said sheet 1 and passing through the focal point P of the laser beam 3, either at a determined distance d from the joint plane 7 of said sheets 1 and 2,
  • and in making a welded joint at the joint plane 7 by local fusion of the sheets 1 and 2 by means of the laser beam 3, either by moving said laser beam relative to said sheets, or by moving these sheets below the laser beam 3.

Sur les figures 1 et 2, la face principale 1b de la tôle 1 opposée à la face principale la sur laquelle est dirigé le faisceau laser 3 est située dans le même plan que l'une 2b des faces principales 2a et 2b de la tôle 2.In FIGS. 1 and 2, the main face 1b of the sheet 1 opposite to the main face 1a on which the laser beam 3 is directed is located in the same plane as one 2b of the main faces 2a and 2b of the sheet 2 .

Dans ce cas, la distance d de l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal P du faisceau laser 3 par rapport au plan de joint 7 des tôles 1 et 2 est comprise ente 0,2 et 0,3 fois la différence d'épaisseur (e₁ - e₂) entre lesdites tôles 1 et 2.In this case, the distance d from the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of the laser beam 3 with respect to the joint plane 7 of the sheets 1 and 2 is between 0.2 and 0.3 times the difference of thickness (e₁ - e₂) between said sheets 1 and 2.

Les tôles 1 et 2 peuvent être décalées l'une par rapport à l'autre comme représenté sur la Fig. 3.The sheets 1 and 2 can be offset relative to each other as shown in FIG. 3.

Dans ce cas, la distance de l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal P du faisceau laser 3 par rapport au plan de joint 7 des tôles 1 et 2 est comprise entre 0,2 et 0,3 fois la différence de hauteur d₁ entre les faces principales la et 2a des tôles 1 et 2, au niveau du plan de joint 7 du côté du faisceau laser 3.In this case, the distance from the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of the laser beam 3 relative to the joint plane 7 of the sheets 1 and 2 is included between 0.2 and 0.3 times the height difference d₁ between the main faces la and 2a of the sheets 1 and 2, at the joint plane 7 on the side of the laser beam 3.

Afin de réaliser un joint soudé correct, le point focal P du faisceau laser 3 est situé sensiblement à un tiers de l'épaisseur e₁ de la tôle 1 la plus épaisse au-dessous de la face la de ladite tôle sur laquelle est dirigé le faisceau laser 3.In order to achieve a correct welded joint, the focal point P of the laser beam 3 is situated substantially at a third of the thickness e₁ of the thickest sheet 1 below the face la of said sheet on which the beam is directed. laser 3.

Comme représenté sur la Fig. 2, en décalant le faisceau laser 3 dans la tôle 1 la plus épaisse par rapport au plan de joint 7, le métal situé dans la surface S₁ de la tôle 1 est fondu et s'écoule de façon à former la surface S₂ sur la tôle 2.As shown in Fig. 2, by shifting the laser beam 3 in the thickest sheet 1 relative to the joint plane 7, the metal located in the surface S₁ of the sheet 1 is melted and flows so as to form the surface S₂ on the sheet 2.

La surface S₂ correspond au métal qui s'est écoulé de la surface S₁ dans les espaces éventuels présents au niveau du plan de joint et sur la surface de la tôle 2.The surface S₂ corresponds to the metal which has flowed from the surface S₁ in the possible spaces present at the joint plane and on the surface of the sheet 2.

Ainsi, on obtient une zone soudée 10 qui présente une continuité presque parfaite entre les deux épaisseurs e₁ et e₂ des tôles 1 et 2 lorsque la distance d est comprise entre 0,2 et 0,3 fois la différence d'épaisseur entre lesdites tôles 1 et 2 ou la différence de hauteur entre les faces principales des tôles 1 et 2 du côté du faisceau laser 3.Thus, a welded zone 10 is obtained which has an almost perfect continuity between the two thicknesses e₁ and e₂ of the sheets 1 and 2 when the distance d is between 0.2 and 0.3 times the difference in thickness between said sheets 1 and 2 or the difference in height between the main faces of the sheets 1 and 2 on the side of the laser beam 3.

Dans ce cas, on se place dans le cas optimum du raccord, la ligne du raccord étant tangente aux surfaces des tôles 1 et 2.In this case, we place ourselves in the optimum case of the fitting, the line of the fitting being tangent to the surfaces of the sheets 1 and 2.

Lors du soudage, l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser 3 peut être perpendiculaire à la face principale la de la tôle 1 la plus épaisse sur laquelle il est dirigé ce qui est le plus souvent le cas pour le soudage de tôles de différentes épaisseurs.During welding, the axis Y-Y of the laser beam 3 may be perpendicular to the main face la of the thickest sheet 1 on which it is directed, which is most often the case for welding sheets of different thicknesses.

Toutefois, particulièrement dans le cas de soudage de tôles 1 et 2 dont la différence d'épaisseur (e₁ - e₂) est supérieure à 1mm, on améliore sensiblement la forme du joint soudé entre les deux tôles 1 et 2 en inclinant le faisceau laser 3 par rapport à la verticale d'un angle α déterminé et orienté vers la tôle 1 la plus épaisse. Dans ce cas, l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser forme avec l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal P dudit faisceau laser 3, d'un angle α compris entre 2 et 15°.However, particularly in the case of welding of sheets 1 and 2, the difference in thickness (e₁ - e₂) of which is greater than 1mm, it significantly improves the shape of the welded joint between the two sheets 1 and 2 by tilting the laser beam 3 relative to the vertical by a determined angle α and oriented towards the thickest sheet 1. In this case, the axis YY of the laser beam forms with the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of said laser beam 3, at an angle α between 2 and 15 °.

De préférence, l'axe Y-Y est incliné par rapport à l'axe X-X d'un angle α, exprimé en degrés, compris entre 6 (Δe - 0,2) et 6 Δe + 3, Δe étant la différence d'épaisseur des deux tôles 1 et 2 exprimée en millimètres.Preferably, the axis YY is inclined relative to the axis XX by an angle α, expressed in degrees, between 6 (Δe - 0.2) and 6 Δe + 3, Δe being the difference in thickness of the two sheets 1 and 2 expressed in millimeters.

Cette condition d'inclinaison de l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser 3 est importante pour obtenir un profil de raccordement du joint soudé parfait.This inclination condition of the axis Y-Y of the laser beam 3 is important in order to obtain a connection profile of the perfect welded joint.

En effet, si l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser 3 est incliné d'un angle α supérieur à 6 Δe + 3, le joint soudé présente des porosités inacceptables, car préjudiciables à sa tenue mécanique.In fact, if the axis Y-Y of the laser beam 3 is inclined by an angle α greater than 6 Δe + 3, the welded joint has unacceptable porosities, since these are detrimental to its mechanical strength.

Le procédé selon la présente invention permet de souder bord à bord au moins deux tôles de différentes épaisseurs en optimisant le profil de raccordement du joint soudé, c'est à dire en produisant un joint soudé ne possédant, ni bourrelets, ni creux.The method according to the present invention allows to weld edge to edge at least two sheets of different thicknesses by optimizing the connection profile of the welded joint, that is to say by producing a welded joint having neither beads nor hollow.

Les joints soudés ainsi obtenus présentent une tenue mécanique, essentiellement en fatigue et en traction, car les discontinuités sont supprimées.The welded joints thus obtained exhibit mechanical strength, essentially in fatigue and in traction, since the discontinuities are eliminated.

En effet la ligne du raccord entre les deux tôles présente une continuité parfaite, ladite ligne étant tangente aux surfaces des tôles, donc sans points anguleux, amorces de rupture.Indeed, the line of the connection between the two sheets has perfect continuity, said line being tangent to the surfaces of the sheets, therefore without angular points, incipient fractures.

De plus, l'état de surface obtenu est tout à fait compatible avec une opération d'emboutissage ultérieur.In addition, the surface condition obtained is entirely compatible with a subsequent stamping operation.

Dans la description et les revendications, l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal du faisceau laser a été défini en supposant que les tôles sont disposées horizontalement.In the description and the claims, the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point of the laser beam has been defined by assuming that the sheets are arranged horizontally.

D'une manière générale, cet axe X-X est perpendiculaire à la face principale de la tôle sur laquelle est dirigé le faisceau laser.Generally, this axis X-X is perpendicular to the main face of the sheet on which the laser beam is directed.

Claims (7)

Procédé de soudage bord à bord d'au moins deux tôles (1, 2) de différentes épaisseurs, au moyen d'un faisceau laser (3), caractérisé en ce que : - on amène les tôles (1, 2) en contact au niveau de leurs faces latérales (4, 5) à rabouter, - on dirige le faisceau laser (3) en direction de la tôle (1) la plus épaisse pour que l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal P du faisceau laser (3) sur ladite tôle 1 soit à une distance déterminée d du plan de joint (7) des tôles (1, 2), - et on réalise un joint soudé au niveau des faces latérales (4, 5) raboutées par fusion locale des dites tôles au moyen du faisceau laser (3). Edge-to-edge welding process of at least two sheets (1, 2) of different thicknesses, by means of a laser beam (3), characterized in that: - the sheets (1, 2) are brought into contact at their lateral faces (4, 5) to be joined, - the laser beam (3) is directed in the direction of the thickest sheet (1) so that the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of the laser beam (3) on said sheet 1 is at a determined distance d from joint plane (7) of the sheets (1, 2), - And a welded joint is produced at the side faces (4, 5) butted together by local fusion of said sheets by means of the laser beam (3). Procédé de soudage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la distance d est comprise entre 0,2 et 0,3 fois la différence de hauteur entre les faces principales (1a, 2a) desdites tôles (1, 2) au niveau du plan de joint du côté du faisceau laser (3).Welding method according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance d is between 0.2 and 0.3 times the height difference between the main faces (1a, 2a) of said sheets (1, 2) at the plane seal on the laser beam side (3). Procédé de soudage selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le point focal P du faisceau laser (3) est situé sensiblement à un tiers de l'épaisseur de la tôle (1) la plus épaisse au-dessous de la face de ladite tôle (1) sur laquelle est dirigé le faisceau laser (3).Welding method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the focal point P of the laser beam (3) is situated substantially at one third of the thickness of the thickest sheet (1) below the face of said sheet (1) on which the laser beam (3) is directed. Procédé de soudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser (3) est perpendiculaire à la face de la tôle (1) la plus épaisse sur laquelle est dirigé ledit faisceau laser (3).Welding method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the axis YY of the laser beam (3) is perpendicular to the face of the thickest sheet (1) on which said laser beam ( 3). Procédé de soudage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le faisceau laser (3) est incliné par rapport à la verticale d'un angle α déterminé et orienté vers la tôle (1) la plus épaisse.Welding method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the laser beam (3) is inclined relative to the vertical by a determined angle α and oriented towards the thickest sheet (1). Procédé de soudage selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser (3) forme avec l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal P dudit faisceau laser (3), un angle α, exprimé en degrés, compris entre 6 (Δe - 0,2) et 6 Δe + 3, Δe étant la différence d'épaisseur entre les deux tôles (1, 2) exprimée en millimètres.Welding method according to claim 5, characterized in that the axis YY of the laser beam (3) forms with the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of said laser beam (3), an angle α, expressed in degrees, between 6 (Δe - 0.2) and 6 Δe + 3, Δe being the difference in thickness between the two sheets (1, 2) expressed in millimeters. Procédé de soudage selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'axe Y-Y du faisceau laser (3) forme avec l'axe vertical X-X passant par le point focal P dudit faisceau laser (3), un angle α compris entre 2 et 15°.Welding method according to claim 5, characterized in that the axis YY of the laser beam (3) forms with the vertical axis XX passing through the focal point P of said laser beam (3), an angle α of between 2 and 15 °.
EP93401935A 1992-08-04 1993-07-26 Process for butt welding at least two steel sheets Expired - Lifetime EP0583188B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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FR9209671 1992-08-04
FR9209671A FR2694514B1 (en) 1992-08-04 1992-08-04 Edge-to-edge welding process of at least two sheets.

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JP (1) JP3405769B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE148847T1 (en)
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DE19948013A1 (en) * 1999-10-06 2001-05-17 Thyssenkrupp Stahl Ag Joining metal sheet with beam welding involves inclining axis of weld beam guided along butt joint to surface of sheet towards thick sheet side to pass only through thick sheet
US6483069B2 (en) * 2000-10-02 2002-11-19 The Boeing Company Joining of structural members by welding
FR2825302B1 (en) * 2001-06-01 2004-11-26 Eads Airbus Sa METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING METAL PROFILES
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JP3405769B2 (en) 2003-05-12
ES2100488T3 (en) 1997-06-16
CA2101515C (en) 1999-04-06
ATE148847T1 (en) 1997-02-15
FR2694514A1 (en) 1994-02-11
FR2694514B1 (en) 1994-10-21
EP0583188B1 (en) 1997-02-12
CA2101515A1 (en) 1994-02-05
DE69308086T2 (en) 1997-07-10
US5393956A (en) 1995-02-28
JPH06155064A (en) 1994-06-03
DE69308086D1 (en) 1997-03-27

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